Sydney Marie Dudley is well-known to readers of Will Lacey's blog. Sydney's mom Rhonda posted the sweetest stories of Sydney during her fight against neuroblastoma. That Sydney and Sam should die on the same day is some sort of cosmic symmetry I'll likely never understand but in this crazy, mixed up (I had another word in mind that starts with an f but y'all know that about me already) world of childhood cancer, it's comforting to know that Sydney and Sam got to heaven within hours of one another.

Please lift these families up in your thoughts and prayers today. The first angelversary is bittersweet, at least from my experience. Relief comes knowing there are no more "firsts" to endure: First birthday without. First family photo without. First _________ without. Sorrow comes from realizing that this is the way the rest of your life will be... without.